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Wednesday, August 2, 2017

SAN DIEGO, CA (Aug. 2,
2017) – In a move that proves there is still good value to be found in the
tight industrial market of San Diego’s sought-after South Bay region, Stos
Partners, a privately held commercial real estate investment and management firm,
has acquired a 170,805 square-foot two building multi-tenant industrial project
at 1670-1690 Brandywine Avenue in Chula Vista, California

Michael Mossmer of Voit Real Estate Services represented Stos
Partners as the buyer in the $13.45 million acquisition, as well as the seller,
a private family.

The property, which was
acquired off-market, is widely considered desirable by private and
institutional investors due to its size, location and mix of local and national
tenants from many industries.

“This is one of the most sought-after
opportunities in the region, and we were able to acquire it at a price that
many would think was not possible,” says Jason
Richards, a Partner at Stos Partners. “Our investment platform is centered
on identifying well-located office and industrial assets with a value-add
component.”

Jason Richards

The project is currently
100% occupied by a mix of local and national credit tenants in various
industries, including manufacturing, medical supply and distribution, as well
as defense.

“Multi-tenant industrial
remains the gem of the industrial investment sector, and is exceptionally hard
to find in today’s supply-constrained market,” says CJ Stos, Principal of Stos Partners. “By working closely with our
broker to source this deal off-market, we were able to acquire the asset 50%
below replacement cost, and now have a tremendous opportunity to create and
maintain value.”

Stos explains that this
submarket is benefitting from exceptionally tight, 1-2% vacancy in neighboring
National City, which is driving tenants to Chula Vista.

In his new role, Ventre
will focus on servicing his clients in Hollywood and growing market share for
the firm in prime Westside neighborhoods including Palms, Mar Vista, and West
Los Angeles, as well as continue to represent owners, buyers and developers
throughout Los Angeles County.

"Mark is an integral
part of Stepp Commercial's growth strategy as we continue to strengthen our
footprint in key markets throughout Los Angeles," said Kimberly Stepp, principal of Stepp
Commercial. "His vast knowledge of the sector as well as his street-level
understanding of the Hollywood and Westside markets is a game changer for our
firm as we continue our upward trajectory as long-term market leaders."

Kimberly Stepp

"I chose to join
Stepp Commercial because of its team-oriented and collaborative culture as well
as its very focused specialty of providing institutional-quality experience and
expertise to the private capital market." said Ventre.

"It is crucial that
private owners receive the time and attention they deserve as their investment
decisions directly affect their lives and legacies. I have echoed this mantra
throughout my career and believe my clients will be best served within Stepp
Commercial's proven business platform."

Ventre most recently
served as director with Berkadia where he focused on providing solutions for
high net worth private investors and syndicators. Prior to joining Berkadia, he
was a senior sales director on one of CBRE's most successful teams.

CORAL GABLES, FL –
Pioneering Miami developer The Astor Companies has obtained a $59 million
construction loan for Merrick Manor, a luxury residential project rising in the
heart of Coral Gables. Work is well underway at the 301 Altara Avenue site of
the 10-story, 227-residence project.

“This is a significant
step for our project,” said Henry Torres,
President, CEO and Founder of The Astor Companies. “Securing this loan
continues the momentum we have enjoyed since starting vertical construction
during the first quarter of 2017. It sends a strong signal to the marketplace.”

The Mediterranean
villa-style building is on track for a scheduled completion during the first
quarter of 2019. Prominent architecture firm Behar Font & Partners, P.A.
designed the building, with Witkin Hults Design Group providing landscape
design.

Renowned South
Florida-based interior design firm Interiors by Steven G. has continued a
longstanding relationship with Astor by designing unit interiors at Merrick
Manor. Jaxi Builders of Doral is the project’s general contractor.

LONDON, ENGLAND –– HFF
Real Estate Limited (HFF) announced it has arranged £27.6 million ($36.53
million U.S.) in financing for 43 Brook
Green, an 85,000-square-foot, single-tenant office building in London.

Claudio V. Sgobba

HFF advised NEO Capital
Limited (NEO) to secure the bilateral floating-rate facility from Deutsche
Asset Management for its first acquisition in the U.K. market.

43 Brook Green is located
in the Hammersmith submarket of London.
The property is fully leased to CH2M, a United States-based global
engineering company.

CH2M’s predecessor
company, Halcrow Group Limited, began occupying the transit-oriented building
in 2003 with CH2M executing a lease extension in 2014 guaranteeing occupancy
through 2030.

The HFF debt placement
team representing the borrower was led by senior director Claudio V. Sgobba.

“This was a very
competitive financing assignment given the high-quality asset and well-margined
loan request,” said senior managing director and leader of HFF London’s debt
advisory platform Michael Kavanau. “Deutsche Asset Management did an outstanding
job in structuring and closing an attractive package for our client.”

Michael Kavanau

“We are pleased to support
NEO on their first U.K. real estate acquisition,” Sgobba added. “NEO has been actively looking for a
compelling “deep value” strategic location and asset in London, and 43 Brook
Green represents a high-quality investment with a blue chip tenant we had
previously financed in the U.S.”

“The average rent in
Hammersmith is 50 percent higher than the passing rent of £33 ($43.68 U.S.) per
square foot, and the Hammersmith submarket is 60 percent below the average
leasing rates seen in Mayfair,” Sgobba continued.

“Lenders are comfortable
with the supply and demand fundamentals in Hammersmith, and we expect to see
more capital from Asia and the Middle East on the hunt for the six to eight
percent cash-on-cash return the location delivers.”

Andrea Vanni,
head of European Real Estate Debt Investments at Deutsche Asset Management
said, “We are very excited about this new relationship with both HFF and NEO,
and we are very pleased to add this new investment to our senior real estate
debt fund.”

Andrea Vanni

NEO Capital Limited
(“NEO”) was founded by two seasoned investment bankers bringing together over
30 years of experience.

The firm
provides Gulf investors with bespoke investment commercial real estate and
private equity deals. With a presence in
London, NEO’s investment strategies are focused on the developed markets of the
United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

CHICAGO (Aug. 1, 2017) —
Baird & Warner, Chicagoland's largest locally owned independent residential
real estate services company, has announced its charitable arm, the Good Will
Network, will donate $120,000 in grants this year to nonprofit organizations that
provide shelter and homelessness services to people at risk.

This year’s Good Will
Network initiative, called “$24K of Solid Good,” invites the public to vote
online in choosing the five winning organizations that will each receive
$24,000. The donations mark a 20 percent increase from last year’s Good Will
Network donation amount.

“Baird & Warner has
been serving every corner of the Chicagoland area since 1855, and any time we
see an opportunity to give back to the communities we serve, we seize it,” said
Jennifer Alter Warden, chief
operating officer and executive vice president of Baird & Warner, who leads
the Good Will Network’s efforts.

“Homelessness affects an
estimated 82,000 people in the city of Chicago alone. We increased the amount awarded
this year to sustain a broader positive impact and help lower the number of
homelessness in communities across the entire region.”